37th Istanbul Film Festival

International Competition

Human Rights in Cinema Competition

Human Rights in Cinema Award – Šerkšnas / Frost (Sharunas Bartas)
“We as the jury have had a great journey watching many films in the human rights section. Although it has been a very difficult task to award a single film in this category; we believe the film we have chosen, captures in great depth human complexity in war circumstances.”

National Short Film Competition

Best Short Film –Sana İnanmıyorum Ama Yerçekimi Var / I Don't Believe In You But Then There Is Gravity (Umut Subaşı)
“For its challenging crosscutting of multiple narrative layers conveying the absurdities of daily life...”

Special Mention – Doğu Yakası / East Side (Harun Durmuş)
“For turning the all too familiar refugee crisis into an original and energetic display of directorial skills...”

National Documentary Competition

Best Documentary – Parçalar / Fragments (Rojda Akbayır)
“For achieving a universal and balanced narrative in conveying a personal and exceptionally fragile story in a geographical stage that witnesses recurring social tragedies...”

Seyfi Teoman Best Debut Film Award

Güvercin / The Pigeon (Banu Sıvacı)

FIPRESCI Awards

International Competition The Rider (Chloé Zhao)
“For its touching portrayal of the fragility of masculinity within an aesthetic style which combines realistic storytelling with subtle visual poetry...”

National Competition Körfez / The Gulf (Emre Yeksan)
“For the disconcerting narrative approach to the malaise of today’s Turkey and for the originality of its mise-en-scène...”

National Short Film Competition Kötü Kız / Wicked Girl (Ayce Kartal)
“For the beautifully sophisticated and uplifting way the director turned unsettling childhood ghosts into an inspiration for his own strong cinematic voice...”